Start Driving at 18 (Not 21)!
While many transportation companies make you wait until you’re 21 to start driving professionally, several Dot Transportation distribution centers and terminals have openings for prospective drivers right out of high school!
Since drivers must be at least 21 years of age to cross state lines, DTI’s “intrastate routes” (i.e. routes that do not require crossing state lines) allow drivers at least 18 years of age to start turning over miles and earn money without straying too far from home.
Advantages of Intrastate Driving
Intrastate driving with DTI is the perfect way to get a head start on your driving career at an early age. Intrastate drivers receive:
- Daily or close to daily home time
- Excellent pay
- The same great benefits as interstate drivers
- Job flexibility
In addition, launching your transportation career a few years early can give you a leg up when it comes to advancement opportunities in the future. Whether you pursue a career in the cab or out of it, there’s no better way to get your feet wet in the trucking industry.
“Absolutely look into driving at an early age. At 19 I was on my own, independent, debt free with no student loans. You don’t have to go through all that either. You can start making money pretty quickly.”
—Mauro Pineda
At just 19 years old, Mauro left the Dot Foods warehouse to become one of DTI’s youngest drivers to date. After enrolling in trucking school and earning his CDL, he started driving back and forth between Illinois distribution centers and terminals while learning the ropes of what it takes to be a driver. Once he turned 21, he chose the schedule that worked best with his lifestyle. As a no-touch transfer driver working four days on and four days off, he was able to save enough money to purchase his first home.
Our Commitment to Safety
At some trucking companies, “training” involves sticking you in the passenger seat for a week before handing over the keys and wishing you the best. Not here.
Every new DTI driver, whether 18 or 65, goes through a rigorous, eight-week, on-the-road driver training program alongside an experienced driver trainer. Rest assured, you won’t be flying solo until both you and your trainer are confident you’re ready.
Together, DTI drivers make up one of the safest trucking fleets in the country. We rank in the top 20 percent in most safety categories and our most recent D.O.T. Recordable Accident rate sits at a microscopic 0.55 accidents per million miles driven.
Learn more about DTI’s commitment to safety.
Getting Started
1.
If you are between the ages of 18 and 20 and would like to begin your driving journey with DTI, you can apply to one of our “Student Driver” positions. From there, we can help you get enrolled in a local truck driving school to earn your commercial driver’s license (CDL).
2.
Once you’re licensed, you’ll hit the road with one of our experienced driver trainers for an eight-week, comprehensive training program! Drivers are paid $750 a week throughout training and, in some cases, through schooling as well. DTI also covers trucking school tuition costs for all new drivers.
Ready to get started?
Browse our career opportunities, it’s never too early to submit your DTI application. Get a jumpstart on your driving career today!
Connect with a Recruiter
Have questions about CDL school or DTI in general? Drop us a line and our recruiting team would be happy to assist.
